Search results for ""Troubador Publishing""

Marie and her family are safe inside their little home, but outside on the wild moor stands Jarvis, watching their bothy. He is bare foot and unkempt. Why is he watching them and why is it that he is so often close to places where there is trouble? Is Marie right to fear this strange man? It is a troubling time for the inhabitants of the Lonely Island. Their taxes are high, the climate is changing, survival is a struggle and now their limited resources are further depleted by theft. Who is stealing their food, and who beat up the old man, Holti? While the folk of the little village of Gamla Huss try to support themselves and the refugees who so recently arrived among them, Marie and her family are determined to find out what is going on. They struggle with worsening weather, with unfriendly wealthy islanders, and to track down both the thief and a mysterious benefactor. In the third book of the Lonely Island series, we meet many of the characte

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2022 was the toughest year of Georgia Holleran's life, but she came through it unscathed, strong and even thankful. After 40 years of devouring self-help products and continually searching for answers to her life struggles, but encountering nothing but disappointment, frustration and despair, she suddenly discovered herself to be a pretty capable and confident person. But she didn't know why she was so bulletproof. How did she get to be so calm, resilient, resourceful and level-headed, even in crisis? Was it age? Wisdom? Luck? If she had known years back what was going to make this difference in her, could she have got there quicker? But then it all began to make sense

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Whoever heard of a dragonfly that could not fly? Well, Wilber thought just that, until he found himself swept out to sea on an adventure far away from home. He was caught up in a bubble washed out to sea, tossing and turning, thrust here and there, in fact he was thrown almost everywhere. First, he went to Shanghai where the dragonflies there were kind and taught him about Chinese new year. Then off he was thrown into the Borneo rainforests of Brunei, there the magnificent butterflies were so pretty and wise. He meets a hospitable Falcon from Qatar who took him to the night bazaar. Finally stopping in France for a quick rest where the birds greeted him politely in French. And just like that, he realised that he COULD fly, and he flew back home into his mums loving embrace. Finding himself in the most magnificent places, meeting the most extraordinary creatures. Learning so many new and wonderful things. Wilber was fascinated with his new surroundings and with each jour

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There are many powerful stories in Mine to Die. They include the contrast between the lives of the rich mine owners and their families and the poor mining communities; the Camborne riot of 1873; the Cornish miners digging under enemy trenches in the First World War; the end-time for Cornish tin mining in the 20th century; and the mining disasters, not least the Levant mine disaster in 1919. Using material from a 1969 BBC documentary, Rob shows that this Levant tragedy was caused by neglect and indifference and that truth was then covered up. Rob Donovan's tale is faithful to the historical record and his research into local newspapers has brought to life new material. He has written so readers can be present in that past. Mine to Die is a work of historical scholarship with a difference. It raises the ethical question that is so pressing today: Is the unregulated pursuit of profit at the expense of life and health ever justified?

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In the middle of the 22nd Century, a time when humanity has lost its grip on all forms of advanced technology, Sidney is one of the few people in the world who still has access to ham radio, and who is making use of this facility to keep in contact with three other hams' around the world. With this small network of remote friends, he has been able for some time to endure his existence as a serf in what is now a rigidly partitioned Britain. However, he now finds himself facing a situation where it seems he will have to look to just his own resources to survive. Through overpopulation, ignorance, and an unwillingness to confront the reality of their situation, the people of this crowded country are facing imminent starvation. For Sidney, who lives in the southerner' part of the country, close to the partition line, this means that soon he will be exposed to a wave of desperate northerners' as, in their hundreds of thousands, they move south in search of food. This

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Just Imagine is the inspirational story of Stefan Voloseniuc's journey from a very deprived background in a remote Romanian village, to becoming a successful businessman, entrepreneur, and philanthropist in London. It describes the challenges he faced growing up in the closing years of Nicolae Ceausescu's brutal, controlling, and corrupt communist Romania and the path he chose to create a new life for himself and his family. Stefan is one of approximately 7 million Romanians now living abroad, including an estimated 1.4 million in the UK, and he hopes this book may also help to inspire them and show how through hard work, dedication, and imagination it is possible to build a new life away from Romania. Just Imagine is a phrase Stefan uses every day and he passionately believes it is this positive and creative approach that has enabled a shy child from Romania to launch his own businesses, chat with King Charles III at W

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The day has finally arrived! The Wilson family are going on holiday in their cosy caravan. Look inside their home on wheels and marvel at how everything fits in! There is last minute packing to be done, safety checks to be made and a long drive ahead to their campsite. What will they have in store on their journey? Will they reach the campsite before dark? Join Holly and Sam and the rest of the Wilson Family on their caravan adventure!

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Climate change, the cost-of-living crisis; corporate greed, insomnia and mortality yes, they all feature here, delicately interwoven with joyful poems celebrating love, family, food, basking lizards. And angels. The poems offer shared recognition; words that chime; satisfying rhymes; there's the quantum poem, Dark Matter; What of Love and Motorbike tell of 21st Century love; Puddings is nothing but puddings, while The Comfort of Chocolate twins global warming with the pleasure of chocolate; Disclosure is a lighthearted take on The Ancient Mariner; there is the essential Cat poem, Cat and Mouse; an unwelcome sexual encounter is transmuted into dark humour in Pigeon Pecked. Poetry takes words, crumbles them and dunks them in the steaming hot tea (latte if you prefer) of the imagination. Enjoy!

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The second book in the unique series that features a magical gnome and his friends for young readers aged 4+ Book touches on themes such as the importance of friendship and appreciating the wonder of nature Educational in a fun way, exploring astrology, basic languages, geography, animals and even vintage cars!

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Lethal Responsefollows the aftermath of an epic and bloody battle. Law enforcement headed by Major Paul Stafford, destroyed a huge drug smuggling and people trafficking ring, in an operation code named,TRASHED.Stafford's previous success in smashing international terrorist groups and criminal gangs have seen him and his crew seconded to Hampshire Constabulary.The police are jubilant; they feel they have gained the upper hand.But without evidence to charge anyone with the horrific murder of his long term sergeant and friend, and the cold blooded shooting of an innocent colleague, Stafford feels he's failed.He determines to do whatever it takes to hunt the killers down.Crime bosses are fighting back. Witnesses are being killed to stop them from testifying Stafford's colleagues and friends continue to be targeted.Stafford is desperate to protect the people he cares about. And bring the crime lords and their hitmen to justice.

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Helen Ransome is married to a dull, boring, husband called Henry, and she decides that to get away from the crushing boredom to take a lover called Edward Jameson, her alibi being her demure and shy friend named Emily Jennings.

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An entertaining and witty memoir from an author who has had a long and interesting life. The author has insightful views on a wide and diverse range of subjects such as what a possible side effect might be to the cure for malaria and why the UK population might be getting progressively more stupid.

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The year is 499. The place is Gea a largely ethnic, linguistic and cultural unity, though not a political one. Its history has been one of intermittent warfare between its fifteen independent states and with surrounding countries. However, for the last quarter of a century the inexorable rise of Troia has welded the states, now provinces, into a formidable Empire...Gea is largely unified under the Troian Empire, but the present Emperor is inept and ineffective. Dissatisfaction and disloyalty taint the political air and an aging swordmaster, Diomedes, finds himself having to unravel a plot against the Emperor, while struggling with his feelings for his friend's wife, whose life is in peril.

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Something to Tell You follows the two families of Bert Leinster and his best friend Sam Murray, as the earth comes under bombardment by a Higgs Boson particle storm. The Central Control of the World council insists that survival depends on living underground, protected by The Envelope. As CCOW persuades humankind to hide in the Deeps, Bert cannot challenge CCOW nor comprehend why people cannot see the truth behind the lies.Everything changes when he meets Her. Lily, a plant who becomes his enemy in the battle to save humankind, to save you... although 99.9% of you is empty space. Do you deserve saving?

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Poppy Haviland & The Secret of the Lively Widow is the first book in a series featuring twelve-year-old aspiring actress Poppy Petunia Haviland and her adventuresome friends. Simply being twelve years old is tough enough, but try being twelve AND the daughter of the world's most famous movie star. Yeah... exactly.In The Secret of the Lively Widow, Poppy's family relocate to a small town where the appearance of superstar Holly Haviland takes the community by storm. Even when Poppy discovers a treasure map carefully tucked within their historic lodgings, she can't seem to capture anyone's attention for very long. She recruits her best friend, Annie Kim, and her strange new neighbour Rick Reyes (a rapper and inventor), to explore the history of the map and of their new community.The trio learns that the town that they are living in was a key terminal on the Underground Railroad the illegal passageway to freedom that played a maj

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The second fantasy novel in the Talendia series. Return to the fantastic world of Talendia to witness the war of the three kingdoms. A fantasy children's novel with many strong female characters.

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AspergerWorld is a fascinating, part-autobiographical book written by Joely Williams, a young woman with Asperger’s syndrome. It aims to inspire and empower those on the autistic spectrum, and teach them the joy of self-acceptance. AspergerWorld shares Joely’s journey: from the challenges she faced as a child, to successfully completing her education, to her current role as an autism activist. It also contains invaluable advice for both parents and professionals on how to best support those with autism. Most importantly, it aims to educate, igniting what Joely calls ‘a positive rainbow of change’ into the heart of the autistic community.

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In 1805 the young Lord Byron, a new undergraduate at Cambridge University, was annoyed to find that he was not allowed to keep a dog in his rooms. So he bought a bear instead. And that might have been the end of it – except that Daisy was no ordinary bear. Three years later, thanks entirely to her unsparing efforts, the idle and dissolute young poet left Cambridge with a Master of Arts degree under his belt, and Daisy set out on a career as a scholar, entertainer, navigator and statesbear. As Napoleon’s armies swept over Europe, it was a time when history was being made. She fought beside the future Duke of Wellington, gave wise advice to the Tsar of Russia and Sir Stamford Raffles, unfortunately rescued John Bellingham who was later to shoot the British Prime Minister, and in company with an eccentric Russian aristocrat took a ship through the icy Northeast Passage for the first time. This is her diary, written over seven momentous years that shaped the modern world.

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Introducing Holiday Shorts, a compilation of bite-sized stories with a far wider scope than a typical short story collection! Quick to read, packed with wit and wry observations, but often set against a background which leaves plenty to think about, these stories cover it all from love and loss, history and sci-fi, wars and terrorism to family and contemporary social issues. Some of them are based in London where the author grew up and a number are inspired by Sussex where he now lives. They range across time from the medieval to the apocalypse, across the Earth and into the far galaxies, but all feature characters that a reader can relate to. Perfect for the busy reader.

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Returning from Moscow, Lorenzo Rossi finds himself forced to quit his job as head of the Vatican police. And to make matters worse, his fiancée, CIA Agent Cathy Doherty, calls off their wedding. Just as Rossi is settling into his new life as a visiting academic at Cambridge University, the CIA persuades him to rejoin Cathy in catching the killer of three American billionaires. Barely on speaking terms, the two devise a plan to befriend the CIA’s main suspect. As they get closer to the suspect and his coterie of friends, Rossi and Cathy realise that they’re being played for fools. But why? Everything points to an international conspiracy. As friends and foes drop dead around them, they arrive at the truth. But to prove it they need to set a trap. A trap that turns them from hunter to prey. Will they survive to tell their tale? Praise for The Circle-A Killings: “A great follow on from The Concordat that further develops characters you’ve met while introducing new friends and enemies into the mix. With the same strong writing style as the first, this is an entertaining sequel.” Love Reading Ambassador “Another gripping thriller from a writer who continues to impress.” Kirkus Reviews

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In You brand, Julia Goodman, one of the world’s top communication coaches, has written a unique and maverick manual for personal confidence. Drawing on her successful acting career, You brand lets you in on the secrets of her one-on-one coaching – a methodology she began to develop 30 years ago which is rooted in the psychology, science and techniques of the professional Theatre. Full of intuitive theory and practical exercises, this book will help you connect your head, heart and body to bridge the ‘perception gap’ – the gap between how you think you come over and how people can actually experience you. It will give you a whole new understanding and self-awareness and put you more in control in any situation where you may feel exposed, vulnerable and judged. You brand is about projecting and performing yourself, warts ‘n all. It isn’t about being perfect or liked necessarily, but about giving you the courage, confidence and ability to “be yourself – more – with skill” … it’s a life-changer! “You ‘remoulded’ me to be me, and made a huge and positive difference in my life. You stand out in my career as the person who made the biggest lasting difference. Thank you with all my heart.” Des Crowley, speaking as CEO, Bank of Ireland UK

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With its winning mix of gripping narrative and easy-to-implement performance-raising tips, this book has become a best-selling classic. It’s garnered 5-star reviews and wide-ranging endorsements – from Sebastian Coe and Dame Kelly Holmes to Lord Digby Jones. The book tells the inspiring story of how Ben Hunt-Davis - an ordinary guy in an ordinary team – achieved something pretty extraordinary: Olympic Gold. Co-author Harriet Beveridge, Executive Coach, then gives a simple, engaging account of how we can apply these strategies to raise our own game… in sport, in business and in life. Building on the huge success of the original, this second edition includes two completely new chapters – on high performance conversations and performance under pressure – as well as a general update, based on the successes readers and businesses have reaped from the first edition. In the book’s signature, down to earth and practical style, the new chapters unlock simple ways for readers to thrive in their own pressured environments, and to communicate in ways which consistently improve results. Whether you are a business leader looking to achieve a compelling vision, an individual with a dream, or a coach supporting others to unlock their potential…this book is jam-packed with tried and tested methods to help you achieve your own ‘gold medal’.

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The meaning of Bob Dylan’s songs has long been debated by fans, critics and academics. When, in 2016, Dylan was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature, the significance of his songs was confirmed. Yet their meaning has never been demonstrably explained. Dylan himself has said that people can learn everything about him through his songs: “if they know where to look.” This book shows his millions of fans exactly where that is. Dylan has written hundreds of songs, many of which are acknowledged masterpieces. “Blowin’ in the Wind”, “Like a Rolling Stone”, “Mr.Tambourine Man”, the list goes on. In the 1960s, he was hailed as a prophet. Since then, he’s generally been considered a genius. One thing he’s always been, though, is an enigma. In Bob Dylan: What the Songs Mean, critic Michael Karwowski analyses the lyrics. In the process, he opens up all sorts of avenues into philosophy, mysticism, religion, literature, art, and, of course, music. This is a “must read” book for anyone who wants to learn more about the meaning behind the songs or anyone interested in understanding how a genius sees the world. It also considers the impact Dylan’s words have had - not only on his fans, but on the worlds of popular music, culture and beyond.

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In October 1985, Gerry Healy was expelled from the Workers Revolutionary Party (WRP) on charges of sexual abuse and violence. His defenders included leading Party members Vanessa and Corin Redgrave and sympathiser Ken Livingstone. Clare Cowen was one of five Party members who secretly laid plans to challenge Healy. Now, in a tell-all book, she sets the record straight. Cowen joined the Trotskyist Young Socialists and Socialist Labour League, later to become the WRP, as a student in Bristol in the heady days of the late 1960s. It was exhilarating; she felt in tune with major class struggles and believed her actions were making a difference. But by the early 1980s she began to question Healy’s autocratic control of the Party’s policies, members and finances. The 1984-85 miners’ strike raised troubling questions among the members about Party policies. On 1st July 1985, Healy’s secretary went into hiding, leaving a letter exposing his decades-long sexual abuse of Young Socialists and women Party members. The work of the five conspirators was beginning to bring about his downfall.

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Can’t put your socks on without sitting down? Tight hips, hamstrings, hip flexors, back and shoulders... sound familiar? Then this is the book for you! For men who want to improve their flexibility, reboot their energy levels, decrease stress and, most importantly, regain their zip and zeal for life, Stiff Guy Yoga is here to help. Yoga teacher Nikki Lynds-Xavier invites readers to take her 30 day challenge. The focus of the book is very much on the mechanics of the yoga body. The appeal of Stiff Guy Yoga has led to Nikki teaching the British Army and the Fire Brigade.

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Ten-year-old Nathan Clark is stunned when he dashes outside on Christmas Day to use his new metal detector and finds himself faced with a ghost called Charlie Palmer. But he soon promises to do all he can to help Charlie when he discovers that his near neighbours, the Kimbles, were Charlie’s killers and are about to carry out an armed raid. When Nathan’s parents go away for the weekend leaving his no-nonsense big sister in charge, the family jewels are stolen and Charlie instantly gets the blame. The police are decidedly sceptical when Nathan tells them the truth that Charlie revealed to him. The only person listening is French scientist Monsieur Dupont, the one hundred and twenty-eight year old former owner of Nathan’s house. Will Nathan be able to save the day or will he end up the same way as Charlie?

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Mankind vs Microbes is part memoir, part history lesson in microbiology and infectious diseases. It is a compelling story written by one of the world's leading clinical microbiologists. Born in a poverty-stricken part of Pakistan, the author shares his personal life experience of infectious diseases, from Cholera to Covid, which he and his family members contracted during their lives. Despite his impoverished background, he pursues his dream of becoming a doctor. The book follows his journey through many struggles in his early life as he beats the odds to become a clinical microbiologist working across three continents and ultimately becoming one of the world's leading experts in infection prevention and control. Alongside the remarkable life story, the origins of each disease are explored utilising historical context and captivating accounts about the individuals who first fought against them. Scientific achievements and advances in infection prevention are presented in a succinct and engaging manner. The unique format allows the reader to dip in and out of any section, revealing fascinating facts about one man's lifetime commitment to fighting infections and highlighting how microbes have disrupted our lives since the dawn of mankind.

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The change in which we conduct our lives due to the outbreak of coronavirus is what inspired Lewis to write a selection of pieces on this event and provided her with a positive outlet. Reflecting in the Shade provides a unique mix of poems, prose, and short stories, with reflections of the pandemic that will interest both adults and children alike. The collection covers spirituality and general life reflections based on her personal experiences. It is split into four sections, each exploring the author’s life lessons and offered her a sense a solace during this unsettling time, and she hopes that it can do the same for her readers. This anthology of poems, prose and short stories will hopefully enrich and inspire readers and includes something for everyone to enjoy.

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You’re facing change. Right now. Today. And you probably don’t feel you have everything you need to get through it. In fact, if it’s change you’d love to create in your life, you may even stall and not make it a reality. And if life keeps handing you curve balls you might feel that you don’t know where to start. Designed to be used in conjunction with Untangled, the Untangled Journal gives you a space to scribble, sketch, pour out the contents of your heart and start to make sense of you and your life. You’ll discover more about what matters to you, gain new insight and perspective on the change you’re facing, and ultimately realise how to move forward intentionally. Containing over 100 insightful journal prompts, and over 12 creative activities to really help you make sense of the change you’re facing and inspirational and informative content, Untangled – The Journal is one you’ll want to keep close as you live through the time ahead. Written by Kirsty Maynor, change strategist, accredited International Coaching Federation coach and award winning CEO of Firefly Leadership Ltd, the Journal draws on Kirsty’s personal experience and professional expertise.

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Peek through the window of the doll house and you will see flashes of bright colours, like little fireworks fizzing in the night sky. These flashes of colour are tiny little ghosts, floating around their new home. Once they were ornaments left to sit on a shelf, high up in the Thompson-Wibbly Manor house, only floating around after dark. It was during an evening float that the doll house was found, hidden upstairs in the dusty attic. Certain it was empty, the ghosts move in. Meet Phoenix, Cordelia, Maurice and the rest of the ghostly gang who share a funny feeling that sends shivers down their cloaks. Does someone know their secret and do they know they have decided to call the doll house in the attic their new home? Wonderfully illustrated by Dave Hill, this tale of new friendship and imagination is perfect for younger readers who love all things spooky. The perfect introduction to reading short chapters alone or performed by a grown up at bedtime giving comical voices to all the characters.

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The Times THRILLER of the MONTH, December 2023 'Angus Blair’s winning debut novel…. while its inspiration might be the 39 Steps, his accidental hero channels Reggie Perrin as much as Richard Hannay.' James Owen, The Times thriller review Henry Bradbury’s life is in free fall. His marriage has failed, he’s about to lose his City job, and he now finds himself dangerously out of his depth as an unlikely agent of the British secret intelligence services. His therapist, Dr Nea Solomon, is the only person he can trust. Henry’s confession of spying on Russians in London doesn’t get the reaction he expects. Nea has her own dark secrets to guard and refuses to see her patient again. Now frightened and on his own, a chain of events leads to murder. Having stumbled upon a poison at the heart of the British establishment, Henry fears for his life and decides to lie low at his holiday home in Lisbon. A professional killer catches up with him and a terrifying chase across Europe ensues. He must fade to grey, go off-grid and tramp home to England. Staying just one step ahead, he joins forces with Nea and Felicity Smith, formerly MI6’s most senior female officer, previously “buried” by Nea in witness protection in Cornwall. Together, they uncover a plot hatched at Eton College forty years earlier. But who can they trust?

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An Elf from Scandinavia, who is both traditionally dressed and well-travelled, arrives in the garden of a country house brought by a gust of wind – his normal method of transport. He finds a discarded pumpkin in the compost heap and makes it his new home. He soon makes an enemy of a lop-eared rabbit that lives in a hutch in the garden and learns to give it a wide berth. He is extremely well fed by the leftovers of the family who seem to throw away no end of tasty morsels. He loves to watch the activities of the children and whenever possible, plays tricks on them. After exploring he finds a new but unlikely friend in the shape of a piece of bark seemingly attached to a tree. But this is an incredibly clever creature, and he helps the Elf on several occasions, saving a frog from drowning and a nest of baby birds from falling into the stream. The Elf knows when it is time to travel on and waits for the winds to take him to a new place and more adventures.

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In 2013 Sue Bathurst went to Kyrgyzstan to ride a horse in the jailoo - the nomads’ mountain pastures. She fell in love with the country, sometimes described as the most beautiful country in the world, and with its people. In this book she not only describes Kyrgyzstan, as it was and is, but tells of four of these horse rides in the Tien Shan and Talas Mountains, travelled with English and Kyrgyz friends. During those rides they covered 500 miles by horse; crossed 20 passes, most between 9,000 feet and 13,000 feet; negotiated precipitous gorges and boulder strewn rivers of cascading snowmelt. In 2017 they rode for over 150 miles down the no-go zone, once the frontier between the USSR and China, and still the Kyrgyz/Chinese border. Everywhere they were welcomed by the shepherds and their families. This is not only about a beautiful country, illustrated with over 200 colour photographs, 4 graphs and a colour map. It is about traversing challengingly tricky terrain, far from the possibility of helicopter rescue, and seeing, along the way, how the smallest country in Central Asia is rebuilding itself after 115 years of Russian rule.

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When up-and-coming hat maker Anna Peel gets divorced, she starts looking for something fulfilling to occupy her time and signs up to become a sponsor at a school on the banks of the Zambezi. So begins her correspondence with precocious 10-year-old Henry Sissonga, Grace Nkomo the founder of Mwabonwa School and Dann Huismann, former Captain in the Royal Netherlands Army and now Geography Teacher. But when Dann’s apparent interest suddenly cools, Anna wonders if this is somehow linked to the mysterious death of his wife and son or perhaps is it his growing attachment to visiting Danish academic Dr Lottie Lund. When an opportunity comes for Anna to travel to Zambia to teach design at the newly opened Twalumba Women’s Art Centre, she seizes the chance for adventure and personal fulfilment but must reconcile her commitment to the empowerment of the local village women with her growing affection for a man - damaged by war and personal tragedy - who clearly does not reciprocate her feelings. Little does Anna know how much she will be drawn into this captivating world and how her arrival will change all their lives forever.

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It is 1943. Join Elf, an intrepid grandmother, on her secret journey of over 6,814 miles up the African continent. Based on her personal journals, Crossing the Rift recounts her remarkable tale of travelling alone as a sixty-four-year-old English woman, braving the dangers of World War II, and challenging terrain, to rejoin her unsuspecting husband in Palestine. Along the way, Elf encounters a diverse array of fellow travellers, and her journey by various modes of overland transport provides a vivid glimpse into a bygone era. This captivating memoir is enriched by detailed maps and striking period photographs that bring both Elf’s story and the beauty of Africa to life.

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Temples of Gold offers a fresh perspective on God’s people from the time of King Solomon to their return from exile. By using Old Testament narratives and imagined scenes, this novel follows four lesser-known Biblical characters and their experiences during this period. This is the final instalment of The Line of Shem trilogy, which builds up a comprehensive overview of the Old Testament and seeks to bring fresh insights to both new and established Bible readers. Through vivid storytelling, Temples of Gold is a captivating read that will deepen your understanding and appreciation of the Bible's rich history. ‘Once again, Corinne Brixton has vividly brought to life the world, events and people of ancient Israel. Her great skill is to do this by focusing in on the lives of actual people, ‘minor’ characters imaginatively fleshed out, persuasively and engagingly portrayed against an impeccably researched background. In doing so, and with a light touch, she airs some of the biggest questions: what is God’s meaning in the things that happen? And what might faithful people yet hope for?’ J. Gordon McConville, Professor Emeritus of Old Testament Theology, University of Gloucestershire

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In the second half of the nineteenth century, three women from very different social backgrounds were convicted of infanticide and sentenced to death at the Lincoln Assizes. Lucy Ann Buxton, from Metheringham Fen, was a petty criminal whose mother was an opium addict; Emma Wade, from Stamford, was the daughter of a respected policeman; whilst Selina Stanhope, from Langtoft, near Market Deeping, was admitted into the workhouse as a destitute pauper, after being rejected by her family. All three women were eventually reprieved from the hangman’s noose by order of the Home Secretary. Reprieved at Lincoln delves into the sombre stories of these women and the impact of their crimes on their respective communities. Drawing from a range of contemporary sources, the book also examines previously unpublished documents related to the three cases and sheds new light on judicial processes sometimes shrouded in secrecy and silence.

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We Aim to Live is a collection of fourteen short stories about ordinary people at moments of crisis, crossroads or revelation. The stories look unflinchingly at moments when men’s behaviour is on the edge of turning dangerous, alongside issues of class and the characters' struggles with life’s small (and large) humiliations. This is a powerful, dark and funny collection, all told in an authentic and utterly distinctive voice.

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The Return to Me after ME is the incredible story of how a once superfit distance runner and Personal Trainer became too ill to walk even just a few steps having been diagnosed with Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME). But refusing to accept that she faced an incurable and lifelong condition she embarked on a journey to regain her health. Trinity Buckley talks about her experiences of being a successful athlete with a thriving business and then suddenly finding herself at the other extreme. Trinity's journey takes us through her search for answers to the unanswerable question of how to recover from an incurable illness and illustrates her determination to not give up on the life she once had and wanted to return to. This is an inspirational account of how it was possible for Trinity to resume her life as a marathon and ultra-distance runner, not only completing a marathon a little over eight months since her full recovery but also eventually completing a challenge of running three 145-mile races within three months.

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It's Christmas Day! Rose, the youngest of three, is the last one to open her present. She sees her older brother, James, unwrap a noisy, fast racing car which looks super fun, and her older sister, Mary, finds out she has a lovely doll that walks and talks! Excited, Rose unwraps her present to find a sweet-looking teddy bear. Sweet, but he doesn't walk or talk or race or make noises or anything! But as the day moves on, Rose comes to realise that her teddy bear may actually be the best present of them all... With the best of traditional values, The Best Present is beautifully illustrated for ages 3 - 6 years. It will also encourage young readers' imaginations, as well as their art skills, with the colouring section at the back of the book! A delightful book to have at Christmas and throughout the year.

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‘Go on, Freddie, tell the whole story. Remember that last night when you were together. You knew then that your love had made you both immortal: here’s your chance to tell it.’ Suddenly confronted by memories of his first great love, Freddie McNaughton recounts how, together, they surmounted all obstacles until fate intervened. It’s the 1960s and the world is changing, identities being redefined and loyalties challenged. At his single-sex Catholic public school the volatile sixteen year-old Freddie is discovering things about himself which he doesn’t know how to handle. But falling in love with the beautiful Paul changes all that: they bond, and dream of a life together. They adopt Walt Whitman’s famous poem ‘We Two Boys Together Clinging’ which becomes their ‘national anthem’. Their intensity spills over in their response to art, music and poetry. Telling his story through a series of letters written fifty years after the event and discovered after his death, Freddie remembers the struggles that they had to overcome: not least those of faith, identity and loyalty. Yet, even as heartbreak lies in wait, this absorbing tale does not have a tragic end: the two firmly believe that their love for each other has made them immortal.

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Far from the hustle and bustle of the city, in the fictional countryside of Buckington, down on the quiet and charming riverbank lives a very special set of creatures! The lonesome grasshopper, the know-it-all mouse, the lost dragonfly, the arrogant toad and the venturing newt are all waiting for you to come and share in their stories as they learn life's lessons and experience everyday challenges. Share in these five richly-woven short stories as each riverbank animal takes his own tale, detailing a journey on how these characters live and how their adventures develop. While they may live separately, they also know when to ask for help and show that you're never truly alone when you have a friend. Ideal for young readers who enjoy Beatrix Potter or The Wind in the Willows, these future classics will be ones you return to again and again.

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Do you feel different from others, your soul knowing that there is more to yourself than your emotions, thoughts, your pain? Ben Wood's spiritual guide is for healing yourself, finding inner freedom by learning to love yourself unconditionally. The inner transformation within this book is for souls who are ready to heal their energy bodies from this lifetime and many past incarnations here on earth. You will be drawn to this book for the next chapter in your life to become free and whole within, the real you shall emerge. Never Come Back to Earth Again examines an energy called 'the pain frequency', explaining this in detail as well as exploring how to move through it and dissolve the heavy energies in your body that hold you back so you can see things in a new light. You'll learn to love yourself unconditionally, accepting yourself for all your beautiful qualities. Dissolving your conditioned character and finding self-realisation. You are ready to heal, balance, and never come back to earth again.

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I crafted the Build the Invisible Journal to help readers of my Build the Invisible book turn theory into practice. From students looking for job tips to those making their first career steps and even seasoned professionals contemplating a change of role, Build the Invisible deals with the same question I am continually asked: What’s the magic formula for combining a job with your passion? That is what the journal is here to help with: to build your routines, to form micro habits, to keep track of growing relationships and to note down your purposeful work. I’ve distilled everything I know into the Build the Invisible book, which outlines my philosophy and shows how investing in yourself – building your invisible foundations – leads to a successful and fulfilling career. I’ve specifically designed this journal to sit alongside Build the Invisible. This will help you record the content you’ve consumed, monitor your growing network, track your progress and stay motivated. I’ve also used some of their quotes to keep you motivated through each week of the journal. The Journal helps you hold yourself to account as you build daily, productive routines. There’s no quick fix. Instead, the Build the Invisible book and journal are collectively something much better. They show you – piece by piece – how to invest in yourself and make that ideal career a reality.

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Can love truly conquer all? Melanie never has had too much time for men. Her life is taken up by her career as a successful model and her best friend, Christine, and she always seems to find she is never satisfied in love. Fate soon intervenes when she and Christine land in Menorca, an island of rest, relaxation and romantic possibilities. Whilst Christine is taken with the handsome pilot who flew them out, Melanie has a chance encounter on the beach with a man who says he is the author of the book she’s reading. It ends on a strange note, leaving her curious to find him. Events take a turn for the bizarre when she approaches the publisher only to discover the author died in mysterious circumstances years before. As Melanie delves deeper into the supernatural possibilities, she discovers he appears to have been given one final day. With a bond formed between them, Melanie is torn by the idea of being separated forever. A decision looms: whether to cross the ley lines and join him. Should she take the risk?

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Our local councillors come from people close to their electorate: family, friends, neighbours, work mates, people down your street. They might be down your street - but you don’t feel that they are up it! They spend multi billions of our money annually on schools, housing, social services, roads, waste management, sport and leisure, environmental and public health, planning amongst many other day-to-day matters vital to us all. But what do we really know about our elected representatives and how they work, what good they do, and what really happens behind the scenes? One in a Million does just that, taking you into the office of Sir Bill Taylor. Sir Bill Taylor has almost fifty years of successful experience in public service as a full-time youth and community worker, manager and trainer professionally and as a Councillor, Committee chair, Executive Member, Mayor and deputy Mayor, Deputy Leader and Leader of Blackburn with Darwen Council. He was constituency agent to Cabinet member Jack Straw for over thirty years. They transformed how Councils and constituency MPs communicated and engaged with communities. Many things he introduced in communities, education, schools, colleges, finance and social mobility were visited by prominent national figures and widely replicated nationally as good practice. During these times his work has been described as “unique unparalleled elsewhere” and “in a league of their own”. What was his investiture at the palace like? What is a royal garden party like? How do you install a new bishop? How do local political parties operate? What is a Constituency Agent? What’s canvassing at election time really about? How do mayors get appointed, and what do they do? Find out the answers to these questions and more in this fascinating inside look at a dedicated councillor's career.

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Summer, 1814. Thomas Hammond is an apothecary surgeon in a village near London whose dreams of a grand medical career were ruined by a shameful secret. He longs to see his apprentice, his son Edward, become a great surgeon. His other apprentice is eighteen-year-old local orphan, John Keats. Thomas sees John as a daydreamer who wastes time reading. John asks Thomas how he copes with his patients’ suffering, but Thomas has no real answer. After all, Georgian medicine is brutal with no anaesthesia, antisepsis or antibiotics. Leeches are used to bleed and medicines can poison rather than cure. Thomas failed to save John’s mother four years earlier, and when John criticises Thomas’s methods tempers flare on both sides. Despite their differences, Thomas and John begin to develop a grudging respect for each other with Thomas seeing a humanity in the way John relates to patients. Their relationship deepens into one more resembling father and son while Thomas's true son, Edward, disappoints his father. Thomas realises John is gifted and would make a skilled surgeon, but to help John succeed Thomas must confront his own past mistakes. On the verge of qualifying as a surgeon, John unexpectedly abandons medicine for poetry. Thomas is devastated and struggles to find meaning in his life and work. As he faces one final challenge, can the master learn some valuable lessons about life from his poetic apprentice before it’s too late?

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Meet Delphy Rose: thirty-eight, a SEN teacher, and happily single. After a chance encounter with Ben, she is transported back to more carefree times when both were in a local post-punk band, The Thistles. They can’t help but fall in love, but things are complicated: Ben is married and has changed. Delphy is fragile and has a secret. A young, working class, ambitious Delphy dreamt of Uni. She immersed herself in and escaped through the explosion of eighties’ alternative music. As a mature woman, Delphy recalls first loves, friendships, bust ups, colourful characters, the gigs, the parties. Through the memories of Delphy’s younger days, full of hilarious escapades, Delphy Rose recounts the journey of a woman trying to find her way through and out of a difficult, coercive relationship with issues on both sides. She must realise that while Ben is the key, he is perhaps not the answer to healing past traumas. Can she resolve the pain of her past with her final song?

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